Architect needs to answer questionsThe Russellville City Council called a special meeting Friday afternoon to analyze the cost of the proposed aquatic center at 90 percent — approximately $6.4 million, according to construction manager Chad Weisler of Van Horn Construction. Weisler said he had presented 90 percent plans by ETC Architects Inc. of Little Rock to several subcontractors, suppliers and vendors. “There was sort of a non-positive attitude with how long it’s taken,” We...

Fire department gets new gearThe Crow Mountain Fire Department recently bought 15 sets of Globe Turnouts. These newer and lighter sets of coats and pants will replace the ones the department has had from the 1990s and early 2000s.

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Taxiway extension topic of meetingRussellville Regional Airport Commissioners were told by Bob Chatman of Miller Newell Engineers during their regular meeting Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has changed its mind about funding a parallel taxiway extension near the new runway extension. Chatman explained the FAA previously indicated it would not fund the taxiway extension if the state Department of Aeronautics (DOA) was interested in funding. Now, the FA...

Chamber hosts 2016 banquetBY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com DARDANELLE — Bonnie Ring was named Citizen of the Year at the Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Monday inside the Dardanelle Community Center. Ring was unable to attend the banquet and Janelle Tatum accepted the award on her behalf. Local radio personality Johnny Story spoke about Ring and a brief video presentation was shown. Ring, maiden name Bonnie Brown, was a member of a popular country tri...

Wal-Mart closings create new food deserts for townsFAIRFIELD, Ala. — An Associated Press analysis shows that the closing of more than 150 Wal-Mart stores nationwide will create three food deserts in Alabama, Kansas and Arkansas. Stores slated to shut down Thursday will leave residents in parts of Fairfield, Alabama; Coal Hill, Arkansas; and Wichita, Kansas, without a supermarket. The federal government considers a neighborhood a food desert if at least a fifth of residents live in poverty and ...

Comprehensive inspection underway at ANOThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has begun a comprehensive inspection to assess the depth and breadth of the problems affecting performance at Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), which is receiving the highest level of NRC scrutiny. The plant is operated by Entergy Operations. A team of 25 inspectors will devote about 3,600 hours of effort to independently assess and document the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to identify, eval...

Latham hired at Bealls BarclayBeall Barclay & Company PLC recently hired Paula Latham as Accounting Service Provider. Latham is a 48 year resident of the River Valley and has over 20 years of experience. For assistance with bookkeeping, payroll and tax filing, call 479-498-9655.

Aldermen discuss wrecker ordinanceThe Russellville City Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance during its regular meeting last week that would establish participation in the city’s wrecker call service and also repeal Ordinances 1853 and 1890, passed in 2005. Police Chief Jeff Humphrey said one of the big things the new ordinance would do is remove the fixed fees on towing vehicles. Copies of the ordinance were given to all wrecker owners, and they seemed satisfie...

NRC To Conduct Comprehensive Inspection at Arkansas Nuclear OneThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun a comprehensive inspection to assess the depth and breadth of the problems affecting performance at Arkansas Nuclear One, which is receiving the highest level of NRC scrutiny. The plant, in Russellville, Ark., is operated by Entergy Operations. A team of 25 inspectors will devote about 3,600 hours of effort to independently assess and document the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to id...

Thursday ordinance ‘did not go quietly’Although an ordinance was tabled Thursday night by the Russellville City Council that would amend Ordinance 2023 which established the procedures for the protection and preservation of the character of and properties within the Russellville Downtown Historic District, it did not go quietly. Alderman Bill Eaton made the motion to table the ordinance to have more time to review it. But Alderman Robert Wiley pointed out the 15-day grace period ne...

PCLS mulls roof replacement, 5KThe Pope County Library System Board of Trustees met on Wednesday to discuss replacing the roof of the Russellville Library and replace approximately 50 interior lights and ballasts in the Atkins Library. The board discussed the Russellville Library’s roof, which has been leaking during the recent rains. The leaks have caused several problems including flooding in the Teen Area of the library. The library has a current quote from Miller Roofin...

Aquatic center designs almost fully completeThe Russellville City Council reviewed a potential schedule for the proposed $6 million aquatic center during Thursday’s regular meeting. Van Horn Construction (VHC), the construction manager for the project, sent a tentative schedule to aldermen after ETC Architects of Little Rock presented designs of the facility that were 90 percent complete Monday. Finance Committee Chairman Mark Tripp said a 90 percent cost-budget analysis should be ready...

Yell County EMS audit releasedDANVILLE — An audit report by the Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA) of former Yell County EMS director Sidney Ward and his wife and former EMS bookkeeper Donna Ward revealed unauthorized and undocumented payments totaling $680,175 from 2010 through 2015. For the period of Jan. 1, 2010, through Aug. 31, 2015, $528,646 was paid to Sidney Ward, $119,686 was paid to Donna Ward and $31,843 was paid in health insurance premiums on behalf of Donna War...

Obama tours auto show on Detroit visitDETROIT — President Barack Obama on Wednesday hailed the revival of the nation’s auto industry while acknowledging the water crisis in nearby Flint, Michigan, saying the detection of high levels of lead serve as a reminder that the government can’t shortchange basic services. Speaking to auto workers after taking in the North American International Auto Show, Obama said, “I know that if I was a parent up there, I would be beside myself that my...

Commission considers increasing Entergy rateLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Public Service Commission is considering a plan that would increase Entergy Arkansas rates by more than 8 percent. Commissioners met Tuesday to discuss Entergy’s proposal for a $133.6 million rate increase. Originally, the utility sought a $167 million increase, but that amount was lowered by more than $30 million as part of a proposed settlement between the utility and several entities, including the Arkansas attorn...

Cemetery work may start in MarchThe director of Humphrey Funeral Service and the future Center Valley Gardens said Tuesday he will meet with builders on Friday to begin phase one of the project. Jim Bob Humphrey said after preliminary numbers are landscaping, roadwork, lighting and construction are discussed, he hoped groundbreaking could take place on the cemetery in March. Humphrey pointed out the controversial crematorium is just one component of the Center Valley Gardens...

Atkins Riding Club comes togetherATKINS — More than 70 members of the Atkins Riding Club met Saturday and were given an agreement they will vote on next month that declared they want to put internal disputes behind and host the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Rodeo and Fireworks Show in July. “This meeting has been coming for a long time,” Club advisor Brandon Oakley said. “We need money to keep this club up and running. Nobody had intended the ACH rodeo to go anywhere.” C...